The City of Zagreb is set to embark on a major renovation of its Stadion Maksimir, home of Croatian Prva HNL champion Dinamo Zagreb and the national football team.
Croatian newspaper Jutarnji list said the HRK280m (£33.1m/€37.8m/$42.8m) project will take place in several phases, with work likely to commence early next year. Stadion Maksimir first opened in 1912 and has a current capacity of around 35,000.
The redevelopment will involve the rebuilding of the stadium’s western and northern stands, along with the addition of a roof to these facilities. The Maksimir is currently completely open to the elements, with the roof reportedly set to account for half of the project’s cost.
A plan to develop a new stadium for Dinamo and the national team emerged in 2008, only to ultimately be abandoned a few years later. Jutarnji list said the Maksimir renovation is set to end speculation that Dinamo may leave the stadium it has called home since 1949.
A city council spokeswoman told the newspaper that renovation is seen as necessary as the stadium is city-owned property that needs to reflect the status of Croatia in world football. The national team advanced to the final of the FIFA World Cup last summer before ultimately losing 4-2 to France.
The council is also seeking that Dinamo, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) and the national government join the project.
Image: Dinamo Zagreb
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